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| Newsletter - February 2008 | Chinmaya Mission Orlando - www.chinmayaorlando.org | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spirituality is neither the privilege of the poor nor the luxury of the rich. It is the choice of the wise man . - Swami Chinmayananda |
Mahashivaratri
Maha Mritunjaya Mantra Aum Trayambakam Yajaamahey Sugandhim Pushti Vardhanam Urvaarukamiva Bandhanaath Mrutyor Muksheeya Maamritaat Meaning: Om. We worship The Three-Eyed Lord Shiva who is fragrant and who increasingly nourishes the devotees. Worshipping him may we be liberated from death for the sake of immortality just as the ripe cucumber easily separates itself from the binding stalk. |
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| PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Blessed Self Adorations, Love and Greetings for the New Year! As Gurudev said "Every moment is a New Year's moment." Let us experience every moment fully in remembrance of God, almighty. We had a wonderful spiritual camp in the holy auspicious presence of Pujya Guruji and all other Acharyas. I congratulate all workers who gave their time and effort to make the gyana Yagna successful. Remember "Sahayagna Praja Srustva" third chapter of Srimad Bhagwad Geeta. May we all work together in the community as one family in Yagna Spirit this year and forever. Love,
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Mahashivaratri is one of the most auspicious days; Shiva means auspiciousness. The night of Shivaratri symbolizes the darkness of ignorance. Shiva is the Ocean of Knowledge who leads humankind to knowledge. The devotee, who utters the names of Lord Shiva during Shivaratri, with perfect devotion and concentration, is freed from all sins. He is liberated from the wheel of births and deaths. May Lord Shiva bless us all on the occasion of Mahashivaratri and lead us to bliss.| Bhoomi Puja of the new Balvihar building |
 On December 23, 2007, with blessings of Swami Tejomayanandaji and various other Swamijis we conducted Bhumi Puja for new Classroom Expansion Project. This project plans to build 22 class rooms, a cafetaria and library spanning about 18,000 sq.ft of building space. This facilitates accommodating more students, classes and activities. Dr. Mohan Saoji, Chairman of Hindu Temple presented the title deed for the land where school will be built. After Ganesha Havan and Saraswati Puja, Guruji, Swami Shantananda and Chief Guest Dr. John Hitt (President, University of Central Florida) addressed the gathering. Guruji in his address highlighted the need of spritual values for younger generation. Just as a good foundation is needed to build any great edifice, children need a stronger foundation of values that serve and guide them throughout their lives. It is not enough to make our kids smart! But to make them smart and good! In these days of guided missiles, it is more important to guide them to lead a peaceful and useful life. Dr. Shailaja Nadkarni, President of Chinmaya Mission Orlando gave vote of thanks. (Click on the image to view more pictures) |
| Chinmaya Family Spiritual Camp 2007 |
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Children and youth (CHYK) had wonderful time interacting and learning from various Swamis. Many cultural programs including classical dances and youth skits captivated attention of all during evenings. Kids had ice-cream specials and there was also Garbha with colorful dances that was enjoyed by many ! Guruji explained Krishna’s message to despondent Arjuna to perform duties with equanimity and skill very clearly and with illustrations. His message of right thinking and alert living is relevant to one and all of any age and stage in life. Meditation in the morning set the contemplative spirit, Geeta talks during the day lifted our understanding, satsangs during the day removed our doubts, hatha yoga exercises toned our bodies and cultural programs entertained our minds! It was a spiritual enhancement to each layer of our personality and to all members of our families. The experience and insights that were imparted and imbibed will be with us for long time to relish, remember and relive. (Click on the image to view more pictures) |
| Summary of Swamiji's talks on Bhagavad Geeta II Chapter - Sankhya Yoga |
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From Dec 24 -30 we had Spiritual Camp in Wyndham Resorts, Orlando and were blessed by the presence and teachings of Swami Tejomayanandaji, and many other acharyas. Following is a brief write up from Swamiji's talks on Bhagavad Geeta II Chapter - Sankhya Yoga.
Many forms of knowledge tell us about observed world, but Geeta gives knowledge of the observer. It is like a mirror showing one's self and nature and also tells how to live our life. It exhorts us to live our own lives and take responsibility. There are three types of people. One, who are sick and don't admit like Ravana. And some who recognize their problems and seek remedy like Arjuna. And best are those who don't get sick and take prevention than cure like Lakshmana! We say everything is relative in this world. Yet, at physical level, having good health and at mental level, having peace and clarity of thinking are what everyone and at all places and under all circumstances want as absolute good. In life our duties are dependant on our identity. And we have two identities: relative and absolute. If these two are known then our duties are clear and we can play our part properly. There are duties only for relative identity and not absolute identity. And the highest duty of relative identity is to realize our absolute identity. We must know who we are in essence. Actions are of two types virtuous (punya) and sinful (paapa). That which purifies is virtuous and that which preserves ignorance is sinful. Just as a result is for actions, there is a result for motives also. Whenever we compromise with our noble ideal and takes our mind from our own true self is paapa. However, that which takes our mind closer to our own true self is punya. Krishna says that from spritual stand point as well as secular(dharmic) stand point fighting the battle is the same conclusion that can be arrived at. His message is to firmly resolve to perform duties uncompromisingly. Fight one must. Here fight is to perform one's duties. Krishna gives profound advice for preparing our minds to realize our Self. Importantly, even before we engage in action, we must equalize our mind and act. Also while engaged in action we should not get swayed by likes and dislikes. We must do duty because it is worth doing and it is our duty. Then we have equanimity (samata). Krishna assures that in such a performance of duties there is neither loss of effort nor any risk of penalty. Because for actions there are rules, but for attitude (bhaavana) there is neither any sequence of steps nor rules. Shabari fed Rama without proper action but with great devotion. So an action may not be perfect, or according to injunctions of scriptures, but attitude (bhaavana) is important. Primary objective of karma is puritification of mind. The three moods of mind (Sattva, Rajas and Tamas) with which we act condition our mind. Sattva Rajas and Tamas cannot be shown but only their effects can be shown. Ravana symbolizes Rajas, Kumbhakarna for Tamas and Vibhishana for Sattva. Lord Rama symbolizes the transcending of mental moods. Action can only be performed in present and we should let happiness be in action itself. When action is not guided by personal likes or dislikes, then results do not disturb us. Krishna paints the picture of man of wisdom (sthita prajna). For him happiness lies not outside and his heart is full like ocean into which flow of any amount of desires neither increase or decrease its stature. Desirelessness and total contentment is another hallmark. And he has no attachment to any situation or being. He has equanimity and ability to employ senses with perfect control, capable of using or withdrawing them at will. It is error to think joy comes from outside. Real happiness is within. Krishna gives ladder of fall for mind. It is not to frighten but to caution. We must exert greater control over senses. We can control our desires only when there is a greater goal and then the discipline is joyful. When there is an inspiring goal that we discover for ourselves, we channelize our energies to achieve it. If there is no need for any action we shouldn't do it! And if it is conductive to spiritual growth we must do it. Continuous brooding over sense objects develops attachment to them, From intensified attachment arises desire(kama). From desire, anger arises. Anger gives rise to delusion. Delusion causes confusion. And when memory is confused there is loss of intellect. Only intellect separates man from animal. When intellect goes, discrimination goes and one perishes. Not exercising control is like playing with fire. What starts playfully becomes addiction. Be very alert from beginning itself. If we lose sight of our goal, mind becomes extrovert and it starts falling down. Only in a peaceful mind we experience happiness. Man of wisdown is like vast, deep ocean. Only rivers at their end become ocean! So too when objects of desires enter mind of wise man, they do not create any agitation and don't get affected. We cannot create peace, we can only create agitations. Once agitations are removed, peace that is already there is experienced. Just as we cannot create silence, only sounds and once sound making ceases, silence is experienced. Also once rivers reach ocean they don't come back. So too once ignorance is gone, it will not come back. And source of all happiness that is our own Self is experienced. |
| My experience at Chinmaya Family Camp 2007 - By Nikita Kathuria |
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The countdown had started. Everyone was waiting for the day to arrive. Devotees and disciples had started to arrive from all around the country and all over the world. Then, finally, the day arrived. Pujya Guruji, Swami Tejomayanandaji, along with many other acharyas, such as Swami Shantanandaji, Swami Sharananandaji, Swamini Shivapriyanandaji, Br. Vimalji, Br. Girishji, and Brni. Arpitaji, had arrived to bless the Bhoomi Puja for new classrooms at the Chinmaya Mission Orlando center. That meant that there was only one day left for the weeklong spiritual family camp to start in the presence of all the acharyas from throughout the continent, in addition to our beloved Pujya Guruji. The next day so excitedly came and mostly all the camp attendees had now arrived. Guruji inaugurated the camp and the Chinmaya Mission Orlando Balvihar students performed a beautiful Bharatnatyam dance to begin the weeklong experience. By this time, Swami Prakashanandaji, Swami Siddhanandaji, Br. Ananthji, Brni. Aparnaji, Brni. Bhamatiji, Br. Ericji, Br. Prabodhji, Brni. Robynji, and Acharya Vilasiniji had also blessed us with their presence. Being a family camp, the age groups had been divided and each group of students had their own respective acharyas. Each day would begin with either meditation or yoga and end with a cultural program, with discourses by various acharyas throughout the day along with fun activities to keep us on our feet. The adults and CHYKs were graced with Pujya Guruji’s discourses on Bhagavad Geeta Chapter II each day. His teachings were so satiated with wisdom and devotion, that they left the audience completely speechless and full of love. Guruji explained that it is our right only to perform action and not to be attached to inaction or the fruits of action. Do not be lazy! We need to perform our duty most skillfully, efficiently, and cheerfully. In this manner, bondage is not created and purity of mind is retained. Also, with reflection doubts are gone making the mind more stable in meditation, and one will abide in the Self- the highest state of Yoga that can be attained. Such teachings made the overall experience of the camp so powerful that none of the attendees wanted to leave. Some CHYKs like to call it PCD: post camp depression. However, Guruji taught us well. There is no reason to grieve over anything. What we did not expect, there is no reason to grieve over, because there is nothing we could have done to change it. And what we did expect-for this camp to end, we can’t grieve over, because we already knew it was coming. Grieving over either is just foolishness. Endure everything that comes and goes and endure it cheerfully! With thoughts and teachings such as these, Guruji concluded the camp, instructing us to practice what we have learned and to practice it now! |
| Youth Corner - Crossword puzzle on Chinmaya Camp 2007 |
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| Solution to the above Crossword puzzle on Chinmaya Camp 2007 | |
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| Copyright © 2008 Chinmaya Mission Orlando |